The Many Health Benefits of Avocados

The Many Health Benefits of Avocados

Though avocados are native to the Americas, they’ve become an iconic part of the sushi world. At our Bothell Japanese restaurant, you can find this peculiar fruit in many of our fusion rolls and on our California bowl. Some may think of such sushi as “non-traditional”, but incorporating foreign ingredients into native cuisine is an idea that spans dishes as significant as the Irish potato, the Italian tomato sauce, and the red peppers found in Korean kimchi.

Japan has embraced avocados in a big way, which should be no surprise when you consider the country’s relationship with healthy foods. Avocado is a particularly beneficial fruit, boasting the following attributes:

Heart Healthy: Avocados can help you maintain a healthy heart and lower your cholesterol. Since they’re unusually rich in calories and monounsaturated fat, they’re even good for people who need a healthy way to maintain weight while eating a heart-healthy diet. People with insulin-resistant blood can also look to avocados to help them regulate a healthy blood sugar.

Anti-Oxidants and Anti-Free Radicals: Powerful agents in avocados can protect you against the effects of aging. They have also been shown to prevent both breast cancer and prostate cancer.

Prevents Birth Defects: Avocados are rich in folic acid, which is essential in preventing birth defects like neural tube defect and spina bifida.

Improves Absorption of Nutrients: Studies have shown that people who eat avocados with a meal will absorb five times the amount of carotenoids.

Improves Breath: Sometimes, bad breath originates deep in the body from chemicals found in foods like onions and garlic. When brushing your teeth doesn’t do the trick, avocados can help you to neutralize the effects of bad-breath agents before they reach your lungs.